Intravenous human immunoglobulins for refractory recurrent pericarditis

Novel Treatments in Refractory Recurrent Pericarditis

Refractory recurrent pericarditis is a troublesome condition that severely impairs the quality of life of affected patients and significantly increases healthcare spending. Until recently, therapeutic options included only a few medications and most of the patients resorted to chronic glucocorticoid treatment with steroid dependence. In the most recent decade, the introduction of interleukin-1 blockers in clinical practice has revolutionized the treatment of glucocorticoid-dependent and colchicine-resistant recurrent pericarditis due to their excellent efficacy and good safety profile. The rationale for the introduction of this class of medications in clinical practice is the autoinflammatory nature of recurrent pericarditis in a substantial rate of cases, with interleukin-1 being the main pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in this context. This review aims to discuss the contemporary available evidence from original research and real-world data on interleukin-1 blocker use in refractory recurrent pericarditis, in terms of indications, mechanism of action, efficacy, side effects, and recommended treatment protocols. Moreover, novel treatment proposals, such as hydroxychloroquine, beta blockers, and cannabidiol, which showed encouraging preliminary results, are addressed. Finally, gaps in knowledge, unmet needs, and future perspectives related to recurrent pericarditis are thoroughly discussed.

Medical therapy of pericarditis: tips and tricks for clinical practice

Medical therapy of pericarditis should be targeted at its aetiology. Unfortunately, many cases of pericarditis remain idiopathic after a complete diagnostic workup. In such cases, empiric anti-inflammatory therapy for pericarditis is aimed at controlling symptoms and preventing recurrences. The aim of the present clinical review is to summarize published evidence, guidelines, and to provide tips and tricks for clinical management of acute and recurrent pericarditis.

Postcardiac Injury Syndrome After Cardiac Surgery: An Evidence-Based Review

Postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) serves as a comprehensive term encompassing a spectrum of conditions, namely postpericardiotomy syndrome, postmyocardial infarction (MI) related pericarditis (Dressler syndrome), and post-traumatic pericarditis stemming from procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention or cardiac implantable electronic device placement. These conditions collectively give rise to PCIS, triggered by cardiac injury affecting pericardial or pleural mesothelial cells, leading to subsequent inflammation syndromes spanning from uncomplicated pericarditis to substantial pleural effusion. A thorough literature search conducted on MEDLINE/PubMed utilizing search terms including "postacute cardiac injury syndrome," "postcardiac injury syndrome," "postcardiotomy syndrome," "postpericardiotomy syndrome," and "post-MI pericarditis" was instrumental in collating pertinent studies. To encapsulate the amassed evidence, relevant full-text materials were meticulously selected and amalgamated narratively. The pathophysiology of PCIS is proposed to manifest through an autoimmune-mediated process, particularly in predisposed individuals. This process involves the development of anti-actin and antimyosin antibodies after a cascade of cardiac injuries in diverse forms. Treatment strategies aimed at preventing recurrent PCIS episodes have shown efficacy, with colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen, demonstrating positive outcomes. Conversely, corticosteroids have exhibited no discernible benefit concerning prognosis or recurrence rates for this ailment. In summary, PCIS serves as a unifying term encompassing a spectrum of cardiac injury-related syndromes. A comprehensive review of relevant literature underscores the autoimmune-mediated pathophysiology in susceptible individuals. The therapeutic landscape involves the proficient use of colchicine and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to deter recurrent PCIS episodes, while corticosteroids do not appear to contribute to improved prognosis or reduced recurrence rates. This nuanced understanding contributes to an enhanced comprehension of PCIS and its multifaceted clinical manifestations, potentially refining its diagnosis and management.

New Developments in the Management of Recurrent Pericarditis

Recurrent pericarditis is a common and troublesome complication that affects 15%-30% of patients with a previous episode of pericarditis. However, the pathogenesis of these recurrences is not well understood, and most cases remain idiopathic. Recent advances in medical therapy, including the use of colchicine and anti-interleukin-1 agents like anakinra and rilonacept, have suggested an autoinflammatory rather than an autoimmune mechanism for recurrences with an inflammatory phenotype. As a result, a more personalized approach to treatment is now recommended. Patients with an inflammatory phenotype (fever and elevated C-reactive protein level) should receive colchicine and anti-interleukin-1 agents as first-line therapy, whereas those without systemic inflammation should receive low to moderate doses of corticosteroids (eg, prednisone 0.2-0.5 mg/kg/d as an initial dose) and consider azathioprine and intravenous human immunoglobulins in the case of corticosteroid failure. Tapering of corticosteroids should be slow after achieving clinical remission. In this article, we review the new developments in the management of recurrent pericarditis.

Management of acute pericarditis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Provide an update on current management and most recent evidence in the treatment of pediatric pericarditis.

RECENT FINDINGS

While treatment of acute pericarditis has not significantly changed over the last decade, management of recurrent acute pericarditis, with increased attention to autoinflammation as a causal mechanism, has evolved substantially. This includes clinical trial evidence that newer medications targeting interleukin-1 receptors are effective in recurrent forms of pericarditis. In addition, advanced imaging utilizing cardiac magnetic resonance has emerged as a particularly effective way to detect ongoing pericardial inflammation in support of more difficult-to-treat patients.

SUMMARY

Recent advances in acute and recurrent pericarditis management have allowed for a more tailored approach to the individual patient. Yet, unresolved questions require further research.

Autoimmune Pericarditis: Multimodality Imaging

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to understand the underlying mechanism that leads to pericarditis in systemic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. The underlying mechanism plays a vital role in the appropriate management of patients. In addition, we will review the current landscape of available cardiac imaging modalities with emphasis on pericardial conditions as well as proposed treatment and management tailored toward pericardial autoimmune and autoinflammatory processes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Approximately 22% of all cases of pericarditis with a known etiology are caused by systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and vasculitis. In recent years, there have been advancements of imaging modalities including cardiac MRI, cardiac CT scan, and PET scan and their respective nuances in regard to contrast use, technique, and views which clinicians may utilize to better understand the extent of a patient's pericardial pathology and the trajectory of his or her disease process. In this review, we will discuss systemic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that involve the pericardium. We will also review different imaging modalities that are currently used to further characterize such conditions. Having a deeper understanding of such techniques will improve patient outcomes by helping clinicians tailor treatment plans according to the unique underlying condition.

Efficacy of Anakinra in Pericarditis: A Systematic Review

Inflammation of the pericardium is referred to as pericarditis, which can cause sharp chest pain and has a high chance of recurrence even after treatment. This review will explore anakinra, which is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, as a potential new treatment for pericarditis. The systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines by searching PubMed and GoogleScholar from the years 2012 to 2022. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, thorough screening, and quality appraisal, a total of eleven studies were included in the review; eight case reports and three clinical trials. All studies showed that 100 mg/day of anakinra caused a remarkable improvement in patient outcomes. In addition, the pericarditis resolved quicker and had a lower chance of recurrence in comparison to conventional therapy.

Management of Idiopathic Viral Pericarditis in the Pediatric Population

Idiopathic (viral) pericarditis (IP) is one of the most common etiologies of acute and recurrent pericarditis in children. IP is associated with significant morbidity, and recurrence rates of IP are high and require treatment to decrease risk of recurrence and pericarditis-related chest pain. Despite significant morbidity, sparse guidance exists to comprehensively address management of IP in children. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the pharmacotherapy of IP in children, including clinical pearls for managing pediatric patients. Clinicians should consider using the combination of colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as first-line therapy, in order to reduce the risk of recurrence and foster symptom improvement in IP. Colchicine dosing may vary depending on patient age, weight, concomitant pharmacotherapies, and disease states. Choice of NSAID should be based on cost, tolerability, and adverse drug events (ADEs). Children should receive higher NSAID attack dosing for >1 week to ensure a reduction in high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations and symptom relief. Corticosteroids should be considered last-line for treatment of IP in children, because they increase the risk of recurrence. Immunotherapies may be considered for children with multiple recurrences related to IP despite the use of NSAIDs, colchicine, and/or corticosteroids. Similar to adults, diligent monitoring should be implemented, to prevent drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, and/or ADEs in children.

Advances in Imaging and Targeted Therapies for Recurrent Pericarditis: A Review

Importance

Pericarditis is the most common form of pericardial disease. Recurrence of pericarditis affects 15% to 30% of patients after the initial episode of pericarditis. Up to 50% of patients with the first recurrence have additional recurrences. These patients often progress to have colchicine-resistant and corticosteroid-dependent disease. Rapidly evolving cardiac magnetic resonance imaging techniques and novel targeted therapies have paved the way for imaging-guided therapy for recurrent pericarditis. However, the optimal application of these recent advances remains unclear.

Observations

A search was conducted using the PubMed and Cochrane databases for English-language studies, management guidelines, meta-analyses, and review articles published until April 2022 on recurrent pericarditis. Following the 2015 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases, new clinical trials and registry data have emerged that demonstrate the efficacy of interleukin-1 blockers in recurrent pericarditis. In addition, new observational data have come to light supporting the use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of such patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

Advances in imaging and targeted therapies have led to a paradigm shift in the management of recurrent pericarditis. This narrative review summarizes the established and emerging data on the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent pericarditis with special emphasis on the role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and interleukin-1 blockers in the current era of tailored therapy for recurrent pericarditis.

COVID-19-Induced Myopericarditis Leading to Cardiac Tamponade: An Unusual Case Presentation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can manifest differently in different patients, ranging from asymptomatic carriers to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Cardiac involvement may occur with COVID-19 even without respiratory tract signs and symptoms of infection. Cardiac manifestations like heart failure (HF), myopericarditis, and cardiac arrhythmias are commonly reported. Cardiac injury with troponin leak is associated with increased mortality in COVID-19, and its clinical and radiographic features are difficult to distinguish from those of HF. COVID-19 is also known to cause pericardial inflammation, likely via direct cytotoxic effects or immune-mediated mechanisms. However, the definite mechanism is still unclear. We present here a case of myopericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in a COVID-19 infected patient with minimal pulmonary involvement.

Management of Recurrent Pregnancy-Related Pericarditis

The evidence on recurrent pregnancy-related pericarditis is limited, and management strategies are based on case reports and expert opinion. We describe a patient with myopericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade presenting shortly after her first pregnancy, which was then complicated by refractory recurrent pericarditis. She was treated with standard first line therapies, such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and colchicine, and eventually initiated on the purine analog, azathioprine. Out of fear of teratogenicity, she self-discontinued her maintenance medications and thereafter, her course was complicated by a recurrent flare of pericarditis during a subsequent pregnancy. Our case illustrates the significant burden on our patient due to the incessant nature of her disease and on the providers due to the therapeutic dilemmas associated with family planning and pregnancy. Further data is required on this unique clinical scenario, and patient-centered management by a multidisciplinary team is critical.

Immunomodulating Therapies in Acute Myocarditis and Recurrent/Acute Pericarditis

The field of inflammatory disease of the heart or "cardio-immunology" is rapidly evolving due to the wider use of non-invasive diagnostic tools able to detect and monitor myocardial inflammation. In acute myocarditis, recent data on the use of immunomodulating therapies have been reported both in the setting of systemic autoimmune disorders and in the setting of isolated forms, especially in patients with specific histology (e.g., eosinophilic myocarditis) or with an arrhythmicburden. A role for immunosuppressive therapies has been also shown in severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a condition that can be associated with cardiac injury and acute myocarditis. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials are assessing the role of high dosage methylprednisolone in the context of acute myocarditis complicated by heart failure or fulminant presentation or the role of anakinra to treat patients with acute myocarditis excluding patients with hemodynamically unstable conditions. In addition, the explosion of immune-mediated therapies in oncology has introduced new pathophysiological entities, such as immune-checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis and new basic research models to understand the interaction between the cardiac and immune systems. Here we provide a broad overview of evolving areas in cardio-immunology. We summarize the use of new imaging tools in combination with endomyocardial biopsy and laboratory parameters such as high sensitivity troponin to monitor the response to immunomodulating therapies based on recent evidence and clinical experience. Concerning pericarditis, the normal composition of pericardial fluid has been recently elucidated, allowing to assess the actual presence of inflammation; indeed, normal pericardial fluid is rich in nucleated cells, protein, albumin, LDH, at levels consistent with inflammatory exudates in other biological fluids. Importantly, recent findings showed how innate immunity plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of recurrent pericarditis with raised C-reactive protein, with inflammasome and IL-1 overproduction as drivers for systemic inflammatory response. In the era of tailored medicine, anti-IL-1 agents such as anakinra and rilonacept have been demonstrated highly effective in patients with recurrent pericarditis associated with an inflammatory phenotype.

Clinical Burden and Unmet Need in Recurrent Pericarditis: A Systematic Literature Review

Inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis) is characterized by excruciating chest pain. This systematic literature review summarizes clinical, humanistic, and economic burdens in acute, especially recurrent, pericarditis, with a secondary aim of understanding United States treatment patterns and outcomes. Short-term clinical burden is well characterized, but long-term data are limited. Some studies report healthcare resource utilization and economic impact; none measure health-related quality-of-life. Pericarditis is associated with infrequent but potentially life-threatening complications, including cardiac tamponade (weighted average: 12.7% across 10 studies), constrictive pericarditis (1.84%; 9 studies), and pericardial effusion (54.7%; 16 studies). There are no approved pericarditis treatments; treatment guidelines, when available, are inconsistent on treatment course or duration. Most recommend first-line use of conventional treatments, for example, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs with or without colchicine; however, 15-30% of patients experience recurrence. Second-line therapy may involve conventional therapies plus long-term utilization of corticosteroids, despite safety issues and the difficulty of tapering or discontinuation. Other exploratory therapies (eg, azathioprine, immunoglobulin, methotrexate, anakinra) present steroid-sparing options, but none are supported by robust clinical evidence, and some present tolerability challenges that may impact adherence. Pericardiectomy is occasionally pursued in treatment-refractory patients, although data are limited. This lack of an evidence-based treatment pathway for patients with recurrent disease is reflected in readmission rates, for example, 12.2% at 30 days in 1 US study. Patients with continued recurrence and inadequate treatment response need approved, safe, accessible treatments to resolve pericarditis symptoms and reduce recurrence risk without excessive treatment burden.

A Brief Overview of Recurrent Pericarditis Management and the Potential of Rilonacept as a New Therapeutic Option

Recurrent pericarditis affects 15-30% of patients after acute pericarditis. A large number of the patients with recurrent pericarditis can become corticosteroid dependent, leading to disease chronicity and drug dependence, with additional morbidity from long-term steroid use. Recent randomized trials indicate the efficacy of the interleukin-1 inhibitors anakinra and rilonacept in recurrent pericarditis, including colchicine-resistant and corticosteroid-dependent cases. In particular, rilonacept was assessed in the RHAPSODY clinical trial and found to be a potential treatment option that would decrease recurrent episodes, enabling patients to be weaned off steroids. Additionally, new data indicate that rilonacept should be considered as an option for patients with recurrent pericarditis, as add-on therapy to colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in place of steroids. We review the current management options for recurrent pericarditis as well as rilonacept as a prospective new addition to our armamentarium.

Post-cardiac injury syndrome: An evidence-based approach to diagnosis and treatment

Post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is an umbrella term used for the post-pericardiotomy syndrome, post-myocardial infarction (MI) related pericarditis (Dressler syndrome), and post-traumatic pericarditis (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) placement). All these conditions give rise to PCIS due to an inciting cardiac injury to pericardial or pleural mesothelial cells, leading to subsequent inflammation syndromes ranging from uncomplicated pericarditis to massive pleural effusion. We did a literature search on MEDLINE/PubMed for relevant studies using the terms "post-acute cardiac injury syndrome", "post-cardiac injury syndrome", "post-cardiotomy syndrome", "post-pericardiotomy syndrome", "post-MI pericarditis" and to summarize the body of evidence, all relevant full texts were selected and incorporated in a narrative fashion. Pathophysiology of PCIS is suggested as autoimmune-mediated in predisposed patients who develop anti-actin and anti-myosin antibodies following a cascade of cardiac injury in various forms. Colchicine and NSAIDs including ibuprofen are demonstrated as efficacious in preventing recurrent attacks of PCIS while corticosteroids show no benefit on prognosis and recurrence of the disease.

Rilonacept for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis

INTRODUCTION

Recurrent pericarditis (RP) is a debilitating disease that has an underlying autoinflammatory pathophysiology mediated by cytokine interleukin (IL)-1. Rilonacept, a recombinant dimeric fusion protein that blocks IL-1α and IL-1β signaling has emerged as a valuable therapeutic option of RP. Rilonacept has been evaluated in Phase 2 and 3 clinic trials and was recently approved for RP treatment.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews available clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of rilonacept for the treatment of RP.

EXPERT OPINION

Findings from Rhapsody (Rilonacept inHibition of interleukin-1 Alpha and beta for recurrent Pericarditis: a pivotal Symptomatology and Outcomes stuDY) phase 2 and 3 trials suggest that rilonacept represents a promising new therapy for those patients with colchicine resistant or glucocorticoid-dependence disease. Treatment leads to rapid clinical response, with a median resolution of symptoms in 5 days, normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) in a median of 7 days, and successful weaning from glucocorticoids. This novel therapy also reduces recurrence rates compared with placebo. Rilonacept has also demonstrated a good safety profile, with the most common adverse events including injection-site reactions and upper respiratory tract infections. This anti-IL 1 agent has emerged as an efficacious treatment for RP, with potential use for glucocorticoid-free regimens and as monotherapy. Future trials are needed to explore these treatment options and to clarify the appropriate therapy duration.

Current pharmacotherapy management of children and adults with pericarditis: Prospectus for improved outcomes

Pericarditis is the most common inflammatory pericardial disease in both children and adults. Since the 2015 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial disease were published, there have been significant updates to management. Pharmacotherapy has been historically reserved for idiopathic pericarditis (IP). However, there has been increasing use of pharmacotherapies, such as anti-inflammatory therapies, colchicine, and immunotherapies for other causes of pericarditis, such as post-cardiac injury syndromes (PCIS). Nevertheless, the quality of data varies depending on PCIS or idiopathic etiologies, as well as the adult and pediatric population. High-dose anti-inflammatory therapies should be used to manage symptoms associated with either etiology of pericarditis in both adults and children, but do not ameliorate the inflammatory disease process. Choice of anti-inflammatory should be guided by drug-drug/disease interactions, cost, tolerability, patient age, and should be tapered accordingly over several weeks to months. Colchicine should be added as adjuvant therapy to anti-inflammatory therapies in adults and children with IP, as it has been shown to lower the risk of recurrence, reduce pericarditis symptoms, and improve morbidity. Colchicine is also reasonable to add to adults and children with pericarditis secondary to PCIS. Systemic glucocorticoids increase risk of recurrence in adults and children with IP and are reserved for second-line treatment in acute and recurrent IP; they are generally avoided in PCIS. Immunotherapies are regarded as third-line for recurrent IP in adults and children. Limited evidence exists to support their use in patients with pericarditis from PCIS. Pharmacovigilance strategies, such as C-reactive protein and adverse drug event monitoring, are also important toward balancing efficacy and safety of the various strategies used to manage pericarditis in adults and children.

Recurrent pericarditis is less scary: the new therapeutic solutions

Pericarditis is a common inflammatory disease affecting the pericardial sac, resulting from a variety of stimuli that trigger a stereotyped immune response. Generally self-limiting, this condition can be burdened by a significant risk of acute complications and relapses, with recurrence rates affecting up to 30% of patients, especially in the case of diagnostic and therapeutic delay. Therapeutic options in recurrent forms, initially based only on the use of traditional drugs such as colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids, have recently been enriched with new molecules, such as interleukin 1 blockers anakinra and rilonacept, particularly indicated in refractory forms dependent on corticosteroids. Other medically relevant therapeutic possibilities in refractory disease include azathioprine, methotrexate, and intravenous immunoglobulins. This brief review aims to summarize the treatment strategies of recurrent pericarditis in light of the most up-to-date evidence and recommendations.

Emerging Therapies for Recurrent Pericarditis: Interleukin-1 inhibitors

Recurrent pericarditis (RP) is a complex inflammatory disorder associated with adverse outcomes and poor quality of life. After the first episode of acute pericarditis, a non‐negligible group of patients will fail to achieve complete remission despite treatment and will be challenged by side effects from the chronic use of medications like corticosteroids. The cause of RP remains unknown in the majority of cases, mainly due to a gap in knowledge of its complex pathophysiology. Over the past 2 decades, the interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) pathway has been uncovered as a key element in the inflammatory cascade, allowing the development of pharmacological targets known as IL‐1 inhibitors. This group of medications has emerged as a treatment option for patients with RP colchicine‐resistance and steroid dependents. Currently, anakinra and rilonacept, have demonstrated beneficial impact in clinical outcomes with a reasonable safety profile in randomized clinical trials. There is still paucity of data regarding the use of canakinumab in the treatment of patients with RP. Although further studies are needed to refine therapeutic protocols and taper of concomitant therapies, IL‐1 inhibitors, continue to consolidate as part of the pharmacological armamentarium to manage this complex condition with potential use as monotherapy. The aim of this review is to highlight the role of IL‐1 pathway in RP and discuss the efficacy, safety, and clinical applicability of IL‐1 inhibitors in the treatment of RP based on current evidence.

Anti-interleukin-1 agents for pericarditis: a primer for cardiologists

Anti-interleukin (IL)-1 agents have been developed for the treatment of autoinflammatory and rheumatic conditions, where overproduction of IL-1 is an important pathophysiologic process. IL-1α and IL-1β are the most studied members of the IL-1 family of cytokines and have the strongest proinflammatory effects. A naturally occurring antagonist (IL-1Ra) mitigates their proinflammatory effects. Overproduction of both IL-1α (released by inflamed/damaged pericardial cells) and IL-1β (released by inflammatory cells) is now a well-recognized therapeutic target in patients with recurrent idiopathic pericarditis. Currently, there are three available anti-IL-1 agents: anakinra (recombinant human IL-1Ra), rilonacept (a soluble decoy receptor ‘trap’, binding both IL-1α and IL-1β), and canakinumab (human monoclonal anti-IL-1β antibody). For patients with corticosteroid-dependent and colchicine-resistant recurrent pericarditis with evidence of systemic inflammation, as evidenced by elevated C-reactive protein, the efficacy and safety of anakinra (2 mg/kg/day up to 100 mg/day subcutaneously usually for at least 6 months, then tapered) and rilonacept (320 mg subcutaneously for the first day followed by 160 mg subcutaneously weekly) have been clearly demonstrated in observational studies and randomized controlled clinical trials. Severe side effects are rare and discontinuation rates are very low (<4%). The most common reported side effect is injection site reactions (>50% of patients). In this article, we describe the historical and pathophysiological background and provide a comprehensive review of these agents, which appear to be the most significant advance in medical therapy of recurrent pericarditis in the last 5 years.

Current treatment of recurrent pericarditis: safety considerations and future directions

INTRODUCTION

Recurrent pericarditis is one of the most troublesome complications of pericarditis affecting a substantial amount of patients and often severely impairing the quality of life. Current medical treatments range from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine and corticosteroids to biological agents (anti IL-1 agents, especially anakinra and rilonacept), intravenous immunoglobulins and immunosuppressive treatments. Safety is a major issue to deal with since the disease often affects relatively young or middle-aged patients.

AREAS COVERED

The review is aimed at providing an update on the efficacy and safety of current medical therapies for recurrent pericarditis including most recent advances represented by anti IL-1 agents.

EXPERT OPINION

Therapy of recurrent pericarditis has evolved over years leading to a more evidence-based and personalized treatment based on clinical presentation and pathophysiology. The main distinction is between patients with an inflammatory phenotype (e.g. fever, elevation of markers of inflammation, pericardial and/or pleural effusion) vs. those without an inflammatory phenotype. Colchicine and anti IL-1 agents are especially efficacious and indicated for those with an inflammatory phenotype, while corticosteroids, azathioprine and immunoglobulins seem more indicated for those without evidence of systemic inflammation.

Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Pericarditis: Definitions and New Treatments

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

The purpose of the review is to analyze the pathogenetic mechanisms that underlie acute pericarditis, with attention to autoimmune and autoinflammatory pericarditis, and, in addition, to review the available therapeutic armamentarium.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several studies have been published on the use of anti-IL-1 drugs in recurrent pericarditis, including anakinra and rilonacept. The latest, the RHAPSODY study, based on the use of rilonacept in recurrent pericarditis, has recently reached phase 3 with promising results in terms of efficacy and safety. Alterations in the function of the inflammasome and the consequent overproduction of IL-1 play a pivotal role in the genesis of autoinflammatory pericarditis. Recent studies added evidence to the importance of anti-IL-1 drugs in the treatment of recurrent pericarditis with raised C-reactive protein. In the era of tailored medicine, anti-IL-1 agents may be very useful in the subset of patients with recurrent pericarditis and a clear inflammatory phenotype.

Anti-interleukin 1 agents for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Corticosteroid-dependent and colchicine-resistant recurrent pericarditis (RP) is a challenging management problem, in which conventional anti-inflammatory therapy (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine, corticosteroids) is unable to control the disease. Recent data suggest a potential role for anti-interleukin-1 (IL-1) agents for this condition. This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of anti-IL-1 agents in this setting.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies assessing pericarditis recurrences and drug-related adverse events in patients receiving anti-IL-1 drugs for pericarditis.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis assessed 7 studies including 397 pooled patients with RP. The median age was 42 years, 60% were women and the aetiology was idiopathic in 87%. After a median follow-up of 14 months (IQR,12-39), patients receiving anti-IL-1 agents (anakinra or rilonacept) had a significantly reduction in pericarditis recurrences (incidence rate ratio 0.06, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.14), compared with placebo and/or standard medical therapy. Anti-IL-1 agents were associated with increased risk of adverse events compared with placebo (risk ratio (RR) 5.38, 95% CI 2.08 to 13.92): injection-site reactions occurred in 15/41 (36.6%) vs none (RR 14.98, 95% CI 2.09 to 107.09), infections occurred in 13/51 (25.5%) vs 3/41 (7.3%; RR 3.65, 95% CI 1.23 to 10.85). Anti-IL-1 agents were not associated with increased risk of severe adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with RP, anti-IL-1 agents (anakinra and rilonacept) are efficacious for prevention of recurrences, without severe adverse events.

Pericardial Diseases in COVID19: a Contemporary Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) involves the heart, including pericardium. This article reviews the possible pathophysiological mechanisms in pericardial involvement in COVID19 and pericardial manifestations of COVID19. It also summarizes the patients with pericarditis secondary to COVID19 and outlines the contemporary treatment strategies in this patient population.

RECENT FINDINGS

A high degree of suspicion is required to identify the pericardial involvement in COVID19 patients. It is proposed that an underlying hyperinflammatory reaction in COVID19 leads to pericardial inflammation. Acute pericarditis with or without myocardial involvement is diagnosed on clinical presentation, serum inflammatory markers, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. Multimodality imaging may also have an additional diagnostic value. Patients are usually managed medically, but some patients develop a life-threatening pericardial tamponade necessitating pericardial drainage. Pericardial involvement is an important clinical manifestation of COVID19 requiring a proper workup. Timely diagnosis and a specific management plan based on the presentation and concomitant organ involvement usually lead to a complete recovery.

Acute pericarditis: Update on diagnosis and management

Acute pericarditis accounts for ∼5% of presentations with acute chest pain. Tuberculosis is an important cause in the developing world, however, in the UK and other developed settings, most cases are idiopathic/viral in origin. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain the cornerstone of treatment. At least one in four patients are at risk of recurrence. The addition of 3 months of colchicine can more than halve the risk of this (number needed to treat = four). Low-dose steroids can be helpful second-line agents for managing recurrences as adjuncts to NSAIDs and colchicine but should not be used as first-line agents. For patients failing this approach and/or dependent on corticosteroids, the interleukin-1β antagonist anakinra is a promising option, and for the few patients who are refractory to medical therapy, surgical pericardiectomy can be considered. The long-term prognosis is good with <0.5% risk of constriction for patients with idiopathic acute pericarditis.

Recurrent pericarditis: an update on diagnosis and management

Acute pericarditis is a disease of the pericardium characterized by inflammation. Around 16-38% of patients develop recurrent events after the first episode. Recurrent pericarditis (RP) seems to be caused by a pathologic immune response. An inadequate treatment in terms of drug choice, dose, duration of therapy or tapering, has been shown to increase the risk of recurrences. Symptoms, physical signs and electrocardiographic signs are usually less severe during a recurrent event as compared to the first episode, thus favoring imaging as a tool to confirm the diagnosis of RP. Cardiac magnetic resonance is becoming the technique of choice because of its ability to detect active pericardial inflammation. Inflammatory biomarkers can be used to assess the risk of recurrences and to guide the tapering of treatments. First-line treatment is based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine. NSAIDs are useful for pain control, and colchicine has shown to reduce the risk of further recurrences. Glucocorticoids are often used as second-line drugs, but they are associated with a high rate of recurrent events. Interleukin-1 inhibitors, such as anakinra and rilonacept, significantly reduce the risk of recurrences in patients with RP while on treatment.

Anakinra in Recurrent Pericarditis: Current Evidence on Clinical Use, Effectiveness, and Safety

Anakinra is a recombinant human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist that competes and blocks the biologic effects of interleukin 1, reducing systemic inflammatory responses. In the 2015 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases of the European Society of Cardiology, anakinra was established as a third-line therapy option for refractory recurrent pericarditis (RP). Recently, important studies that investigates the effect and safety of anakinra in RP were published, such as the AIRTRIP trial and the International Registry of Anakinra for Pericarditis. This article presents the current evidence about the effectiveness and safety of anakinra in RP and discusses its clinical application and mechanisms.

Efficacy and safety of rilonacept for recurrent pericarditis: results from a phase II clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent pericarditis (RP) incurs significant morbidity. Rilonacept inhibits both interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and IL-1β; these cytokines are thought to play a major role in RP. This phase II study evaluated rilonacept efficacy and safety in RP.

METHODS

This multicentre, open-label study enrolled adult patients with idiopathic or postpericardiotomy RP, symptomatic (≥2 pericarditis recurrences) or corticosteroid (CS) dependent (≥2 recurrences prior).Patients received rilonacept 320 mg SC load/160 mg SC weekly maintenance in a 6-week base treatment period (TP) followed by an optional 18-week on-treatment extension period (EP) (option to wean background therapy).

RESULTS

Outcomes: pericarditis pain (numeric rating scale (NRS)) and inflammation (C reactive protein (CRP)) for symptomatic patients; disease activity after CS taper for CS-dependent patients.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

health-related quality of life (HRQOL), pericarditis manifestations and additional medications. 25 unique patients enrolled, while 23 completed the EP (seven colchicine failures and five CS failures). In symptomatic patients, NRS and CRP decreased; response was observed after first rilonacept dose. NRS decreased from 4.5 at baseline to 0.7, and CRP decreased from 4.62 mg/dL at baseline to 0.38 mg/dL at end of TP. Median time to CRP normalisation: 9 days. Pericarditis manifestations resolved. 13 patients on CS at baseline completed the EP; 11 (84.6%) discontinued CS, and 2 tapered; CRP and NRS remained low without recurrence. Mean HRQOL scores improved in symptomatic patients. One serious adverse event (SAE) resulted in discontinuation of rilonacept.

CONCLUSIONS

Rilonacept led to rapid and sustained improvement in pain, inflammation (CRP and pericarditis manifestations) and HRQOL. CSs were successfully tapered or discontinued; safety was consistent with known rilonacept safety profile.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03980522.

[Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, which rheumatologists should know]

Als Perikarditis wird eine Entzündung des Herzbeutels bezeichnet, die mit einem Perikarderguss oder einer entzündlichen Reaktion des Myokards (Perimyokarditis) einhergehen kann. Die Perikarditis kann im Rahmen von entzündlich rheumatischen Systemerkrankungen oder als eigenständige Erkrankung vorkommen. Rezidivierende Perikarditisepisoden ohne fassbare Ursache werden als idiopathische rekurrierende Perikarditis (IRP) bezeichnet, welche wesentliche Gemeinsamkeiten mit autoinflammatorischen Erkrankungen aufweist. Der Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die Häufigkeit des Auftretens einer Perikarditis bei rheumatologischen Erkrankungen. Weiterhin werden Klinik und Pathophysiologie der IRP diskutiert. Abschließend wird die Therapie der akuten und idiopathischen Perikarditis erläutert.

Management of cardiovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

SLE is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Premature CAD and several other cardiac manifestations are resulting in significant morbidity and premature death among young and older adults. There is a considerable unmet need for developing specific guidelines toward the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in SLE patients.

AREAS COVERED

The authors describe the prevalence of various cardiovascular manifestations, associated with traditional and lupus-specific risk factors. They summarize the evidence behind various nonpharmacological and pharmacological options such as cardiac medications, antimalarials, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressant medications.

EXPERT OPINION

There is considerable literature claiming that the traditional Framingham score used to calculate the risk in the general population would not clearly predict the 10-year risk among SLE patients as they do not include lupus-specific risk factors such as accelerated inflammation, immunometabolic changes, thrombosis, vasospasm, vasculitis, and endothelial dysfunction into account. Identifying potential risk factors among SLE patients and treating hyperlipidemia regardless of their risk scores may be the first step in reducing mortality. Blocking lupus-specific inflammatory pathways by targeting validated biomarkers of pathogenesis has great future potential and more studies are needed on their cardiovascular benefits.

Postpericardiotomy syndrome after cardiac surgery

Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a well-known complication after cardiac surgery. The syndrome results in prolonged hospital stay, readmissions, and invasive interventions. Previous studies have reported inconsistent results concerning the incidence and risk factors for PPS due to the differences in the applied diagnostic criteria, study designs, patient populations, and procedure types. In recent prospective studies the reported incidences have been between 21 and 29% in adult cardiac surgery patients. However, it has been stated that most of the included diagnoses in the aforementioned studies would be clinically irrelevant. This challenges the specificity and usability of the currently recommended diagnostic criteria for PPS. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that PPS requiring invasive intervention such as the evacuation of pleural and/or pericardial effusion is associated with increased mortality. In the present review, we summarise the existing literature concerning the incidence, clinical features, diagnostic criteria, risk factors, management, and prognosis of PPS. We also propose novel approaches regarding to the definition and diagnosis of PPS. Key messages: Current diagnostic criteria of PPS should be reconsidered, and the analyses should be divided into subgroups according to the severity of the syndrome to achieve more clinically applicable and meaningful results in the future studies. In contrast with the previous presumption, severe PPS - defined as PPS requiring invasive interventions - was recently found to be associated with higher all-cause mortality during the first two years after cardiac surgery. The association with an increased mortality supports the use of relatively aggressive prophylactic methods to prevent PPS. The risk factors clearly increasing the occurrence of PPS are younger age, pleural incision, and valve and ascending aortic procedures when compared to CABG.

Novel Pharmacotherapies for Recurrent Pericarditis: Current Options in 2020

Recent advances have shown impressive results by anti-interleukin 1 (IL-1) agents in refractory idiopathic recurrent pericarditis. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We critically discuss the current state of the art of therapy of relapsing pericarditis, with a focus on new pharmacological approaches and on specific clinical settings such as pregnancy, pediatric patients, and secondary forms of relapsing pericarditis. RECENT FINDINGS: Antagonism of the IL-1 is highly effective in idiopathic recurrent pericarditis with autoinflammatory features. Currently, available anti-IL-1 agents are anakinra and canakinumab. Rilonacept is another IL-1 antagonist, currently studied in the phase-3 clinical trial RHAPSODY. Available data suggest similar efficacy and safety profiles of these three agents, although only anakinra has been tested in randomized clinical trials. These agents have slightly different pharmacological properties, being canakinumab a specific IL-1ß antagonist while anakinra and rilonacept are unselective IL-1α and IL-1ß blockers. To date, there is no evidence that specificity against IL-1ß affects safety and efficacy in patients with relapsing pericarditis, although it has been proposed that unspecific blockage might be useful in severe disease. Anakinra is the first anti-IL-1 agent with well-documented efficacy and safety in adult and pediatric patients with idiopathic relapsing pericarditis. Other anti-IL-1 agents are currently under study. Future research should clarify the optimal duration of therapy and tapering schedule of treatment with these agents. Moreover, biomarkers would be required to understand which patients will benefit from early administration of IL-1 blockers due to refractoriness to conventional therapy and which others will suffer from recurrences during the tapering of these agents. Lastly, future studies should focus on the subjects with the autoimmune or the pauci-inflammatory phenotype of idiopathic refractory pericarditis.

Acute recurrent pericarditis: from pathophysiology towards new treatment strategy

Acute idiopathic or so-called viral pericarditis is a frequent and usually benign disease, although recurrences are frequent. Data strongly suggest the presence of underlying autoinflammatory and/or autoimmune disorders. It has been reported that there is an inflammatory response of the innate immune system typical of 'autoinflammatory diseases', predominantly mediated by interleukin-1 (IL-1). This may result from the activation of the inflammasome by a cardiotropic virus or a non-specific agent. The inflammatory response of the adaptive immune system, typical of 'autoimmune diseases'-mainly mediated by autoantibodies or autoreactive T lymphocytes-seems also involved as anti-heart or anti-intercalated disk autoantibodies were associated with a higher number of recurrences and hospitalisations. Current guidelines recommend that aspirin/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for a few weeks should be associated to colchicine for 6 months in recurrent pericarditis. In refractory cases, low-dose corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs have been proposed with limited efficacy. Growing evidences suggest a place of IL-1 receptor antagonists in the treatment of recurrent pericarditis. Many retrospective studies, one recent randomised placebo-controlled study and data of a real-life large international registry showed the good efficacy of anakinra with a good safety profile. Other IL-1 receptor antagonists showed promising results (canakinumab, rilonacept). However, IL-1 receptor antagonists' position in the treatment algorithm of recurrent pericarditis needs further evaluation in larger prospective clinical trials to replicate initial findings as well as to assess safety, cost-effectiveness and long-term efficacy.

Recurrent Pericarditis in Children and Adolescents

Recurrent pericarditis (RP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by recurrent attacks of acute pericardial inflammation. Prognosis quoad vitam is good, although morbidity might be significant, especially in children and adolescents. Multiple potential etiologies result in RP, in the vast majority of cases through autoimmune or autoinflammatory mechanisms. Idiopathic RP is one of the most frequent diagnoses, that requires the exclusion of all known etiologies. Therapeutic advances in the last decade have been significant with the recognition of the effectiveness of anti IL1 therapy, but a correct diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm is of key importance. Unfortunately, most of evidence comes from studies in adult patients. Here we review the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of RP in pediatric patients.

Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis

Acute and recurrent pericarditis is the most common pericardial syndrome encountered in clinical practice either as an isolated process or as part of a systemic disease. The diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography. The empiric therapy is based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs plus colchicine as first choice, resorting to corticosteroids for specific indications (eg, systemic inflammatory disease on corticosteroids, pregnancy, renal failure, concomitant oral anticoagulants), for contraindications or failure of the first-line therapy. The most common complication is recurrence, occurring in up to 30% of cases after a first episode of pericarditis.

New Insights into Pericarditis: Mechanisms of Injury and Therapeutic Targets

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review article aims to provide a contemporary insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of and therapeutic targets for pericarditis, drawing distinction between autoinflammatory and autoimmune pericarditis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent research has focused on the distinction between autoinflammatory and autoimmune pericarditis. In autoinflammatory pericarditis, viruses can activate the sensor molecule of the inflammasome, which results in downstream release of cytokines, such as interleukin-1, that recruit neutrophils and macrophages to the site of injury. Conversely, in autoimmune pericarditis, a type I interferon signature predominates, and pericardial manifestations coincide with the severity of the underlying systemic autoimmune disease. In addition, autoimmune pericarditis can also develop after cardiac injury syndromes. With either type of pericarditis, imaging can help stage the inflammatory state. Prominent pericardial delayed hyperenhancement on magnetic resonance imaging suggests ongoing inflammation whereas calcium on computed tomography suggests a completed inflammatory cascade. In patients with ongoing pericarditis, treatments that converge on the inflammasome, such as colchicine and anakinra, have proved effective in recurrent autoinflammatory pericarditis, though further clinical trials with anakinra are warranted. An improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of pericarditis helps unravel effective therapeutic targets for this condition.

Recurrent Pericarditis: Modern Approach in 2016

Recurrent pericarditis is one of the most troublesome complications of pericarditis occurring in about one third of patients with a previous attack of pericarditis. The pathogenesis is presumed to be autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory in most cases. The mainstay of therapy for recurrences is physical restriction and anti-inflammatory therapy based on aspirin or NSAID plus colchicine. Corticosteroids at low to moderate doses (e.g., prednisone 0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg/day) should be considered only after failure of aspirin/NSAID (and more than one of these drugs) or for specific indications (e.g., pregnancy, systemic inflammatory diseases on steroids, renal failure, concomitant oral anticoagulant therapy). One of the most challenging issues is how to cope with patients who have recurrences despite colchicine. A small subset of patients (about 5 %) may develop corticosteroid-dependence and colchicine resistance. Among the emerging treatments, the three most common and evidence-based therapies are based on azathioprine, human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and anakinra. After failure of all options of medical therapy or for those patients who do not tolerate medical therapy or have serious adverse events related to medical therapy, the last possible option is the surgical removal of the pericardium. Total or radical pericardiectomy is recommended in these cases in experienced centers performing this surgery. A stepwise approach is recommended starting from NSAID and colchicine, corticosteroid and colchicine, a combination of the three options (NSAID, colchicine and corticosteroids), then azathioprine, IVIG, or anakinra as last medical options before pericardiectomy.

Complicated Pericarditis: Understanding Risk Factors and Pathophysiology to Inform Imaging and Treatment

Most patients with acute pericarditis have a benign course and a good prognosis. However, a minority of patients develop complicated pericarditis, and the care of these patients is the focus of this review. Specifically, we address risk factors, multimodality imaging, pathophysiology, and novel treatments. The authors conclude that: 1) early high-dose corticosteroids, a lack of colchicine, and an elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are associated with the development of complicated pericarditis; 2) in select cases, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging may aid in the assessment of pericardial inflammation and constriction; 3) given phenotypic similarities between recurrent idiopathic pericarditis and periodic fever syndromes, disorders of the inflammasome may contribute to relapsing attacks; and 4) therapies that target the inflammasome may lead to more durable remission and resolution. Finally, regarding future investigations, the authors discuss the potential of cardiovascular magnetic resonance to inform treatment duration and the need to compare steroid-sparing treatments to pericardiectomy.

The Therapeutic Role of Interleukin-1 Inhibition in Idiopathic Recurrent Pericarditis: Current Evidence and Future Challenges

Recurrent pericarditis is a common complication of acute pericarditis (15–30%) for which, in most cases, no underlying etiology is found [idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (IRP)]. IRP is currently viewed as an autoinflammatory disease with characteristic recurrent episodes of sterile inflammation. According to the most recent Guidelines, the initial treatment regimen consists of a combination of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with colchicine followed by the addition of corticosteroids in resistant or intolerant cases. Despite this treatment approach, a number of patients either do not respond or cannot tolerate the above therapies. For this refractory group, small case series and a recent randomized controlled trial have shown that interleukin-1 inhibition with anakinra is a rapidly acting, highly efficient, steroid-sparing, and safe therapeutic intervention. In this perspective, we discuss the available clinical evidence and our own clinical experience as well as the future prospects of this novel therapeutic approach for patients with IRP.

Recurrent pericarditis: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Recurrence affects about 30% (20% to 50%) of patients within 18 months after the initial episode of acute pericarditis resulting in subsequent rehospitalizations. Bearing in mind high treatment costs of patients admitted to hospital with acute and recurrent pericarditis, there is a need to optimize the treatment of both of these conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We present a case of recurrent pericarditis. The first episode of pericarditis was diagnosed in 2006. Three months later the patient was hospitalized due to clinical symptoms suggesting recurrence of a past condition. Ten years after the initial episode of acute pericarditis the patient was hospitalized for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis. The search for etiology of the disease was unsuccessful, the patient received treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; empiric antimicrobial therapy was also administered.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Acute pericarditis is the most common disease of the pericardium encountered in clinical practice. Colchicine has been demonstrated as a first-line drug to be added to conventional anti-inflammatory therapies in patients with a first episode of pericarditis or its recurrences in order to improve the response to therapy and reduce recurrences. Despite a large amount of new data, there are still several issues that require additional research and clarification, including the search for new individualized therapies, the best duration of treatment for patients with pericardial diseases, and optimization of patient follow-up in order to collect data on long-term outcomes that would allow shortening the duration of in-patient treatment and reduction of recurrences.